The air is not crisp in her lungs and it is only when she rounds Dandelion hill that she feels something is wrong. ”Something is amiss. Something is not right. It’s in the ground.” Although she feels the Antediluvians life force, Ravenflight knows that it can never be so easy. This was a doe that knew it more than most; the things we so desire are always the hardest to gain. The dark shadows mingle with the ashen brown atmosphere and thin inky black lines of distant trees start to fade. A fog is coming. She breathes it in first, it is not like the cool, crisp droplets of water that drift throughout the forest. It smells of dust, dirt, and smoke. It is warm and unsettling. It smelt of Sulfur. The doe lowers her head now, standing over the frail flower, its little heartbeat pulsating with light. Her stance is rigid and unmoving, revealing her strong shoulders and sharpened prongs. The dull light hits her pelt, revealing her scar-littered hide. Within the back of her neck her empty quills bristle and she can feel her scab cracking as blood begins to trickle down her neck again. From her blue eye a smoke trails, curling around the dandelion first, then down the small crack, it lingers outwards towards the blanket of fog that grows thicker and thicker before the doe. The stoneheart remains strong, standing over the dandelion now, and from the back of her throat, a raspy detached voice leaks forward to penetrate the fog.
Silence.
One. Two. Three.
They rise from the earth, an empty shell that fills with the sulphuric fog. They race across the earth, their hungry talons rip across the grass and greedily try to rip up the flower. The Red is standing close to the flower, his magnificent tines gently tear at the mist with every movement. The Irish is there too, his dark antlers look like mighty wings spread. Soon Rajan rounds the hill and her stone heart moves. He is there because she is. He does not know the Antediluvian, but he knows it means to her.
Four. Five. Six.
The bodies are slender, weak and seemingly thin. They are like crumpled paper filled with air; they are as easily destroyed as they are formed and it does not take long for them to swarm the hill. Like moths to a flame they race at the other forest members as if it was their sole purpose. And it was. They were creatures without a sense of themselves, merely puppets and extensions of the dark lord himself. Tines scrape against tines. Tines tear and hooves dig. Faint drips of blood from paper cuts begin to litter the wounded hill and the sound of pelting hoofbeats disrupts the usual equilibrium. At this moment, they were all brothers and sisters in battle now. Complete strangers standing side by side, fighting for a single purpose.
Seven. Eight. Nine.
They come in leagues. Many are panting and between each wave, the deer would regroup to check on each other. Ravenflight would nuzzle The Red. Embrace the Irish and kiss the tiger. After each wave they would be littered with more wounds or scars, but Ravenflight never lost hope. With each blow she delivered, she felt something swell within her. Something that started at her heart at first, but would slowly travel through her blood. If an on looker were to catch her out the corner of her eye, they would sight her blue eye glow stronger and stronger. Her movements became faster and faster. Stronger and stronger. She darted and leapt on swift, agile legs and she slowly became single minded in her purpose. Ravenflights eyes would lock on to the next one and she would chase it down until it was destroyed.
Ten. Eleven.
Twelve.
The doe broke from the fray as one began to pursue her. Soon one became two. She would dart between the trees and through the ruins as their hungry claws began to tear after her. It was her. For she was the one who had foiled the thrill of the hunt. It was her who found the name. She was a Vendetta. She would dart back on occasion, aiming her antlers at their fragile bodies, each scarring each other. Ravenflight led the pair far from the hill, and began racing towards the midst of the birch, no location in particular. The power grew and it grew and it.
Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Drums of war echoed in her head and they beat in his heart.
((Press play and let the song load. Read through it as it plays. Headphones if you can. Refresh if the player does not load.))
In the distance the sound of the battle crept through the trees on gentle, flowing fog, and was barely audible. Sounds of a feverish doe rushing through the birch grasses overpowered the fray and the sounds of snarling, gurgling demons came closer. They would dart between the trees, hunkering low, almost becoming one with the earth itself. From the earth, of the earth.
Her ears were filled with the thump of her heart and she could feel blood raging around her body. Her heart polished with the thrill of battle, she felt it grow harder and harder. Ravenflight’s eyes glowed brighter and the blue trail was almost violent now, arching and whipping around looking for the demons; it almost looked like lightning. Beneath the surface of her stony heart, thin cracks would form, small blue threads and slithers dared to break through the granite surface. Her eyes no longer had pupils and were consumed with energy. With her teeth bared and her panting heavy she screamed out into the open, violently. Her voice was no longer apparent, and was buried beneath the sounds of a shrieking raven and other pained sounds. Her gaze was hard as if it too, turned to stone. Sharp daggers began to tear at the birch floor and her shoulders became squared. Crrrrrrr-crrraaaaaa..crrrrrrraaaack.
They formed no words of comprehension; the language they spoke was old. Ravenflight was not familiar with the words. Slowly, they began to melt upwards from the ground and grasses, chattering like hyenas, but something else entirely. One charged at her, its jaws locking on her ear and racing past. Blood dripped from where one of her ears once was. Ravenflight was unmoving. Two. Three. They tore at her sides. Blood dripping.
Ravenflight was unmoving. She lowered her head.
Four. Five Six. A demon latched onto her tail, revealing the bone beneath the fur. Ravenflight was unmoving. The doe closed her eyes and breathed heavily. Surely she was mad? The revelled in the taste of copper and iron. From their jaws dripped sulfur and saliva. It burned in her cuts and entered her blood.
No.
Ravenflight was unmoving.
Over her scarred hide fresh blood dripped from old wounds. Her breathing was heavy but she stood like a stone, letting them peel away the old layers. Rend flesh from bone. Ravenflight was old, and beneath her navy hide was each a past life. For she was stuck within a cycle of birth and rebirth. Each mistake was to be blotted out with a new one. Although each body was new, her mind was old, and soon enough she would recall her life back. She would recall back her lovers and her losses. Ever since the drowning she could feel the water within her lungs, the weeds clinging to her windpipe. Of all the tears she shed, she could still feel them welling within her eyes and no matter how much she told herself she was happy, in truth, the old soldier was tired. Her mind raced back to her brother, the gentle and gawky youth, consumed with jealousy and turned against her. Turned against her for a power she never wanted. She did not want any of this. She wanted no battles or memories. Ravenflight wished for a world where death was death. It was the ultimate end. She had cheated it for countless years. Ravenflight wished for a world where within her old womb, life would spring forth and she would give that life to the forest. She wished for a world where her mate would stand proudly and she would with him, growing old and returning to the poppies at last.
Unmoving no longer.
THe does blood ran blue. Glowing blue. She opened her eyes and stared at the demons. The last pieces of stone shattered and fell from her heart.
The doe was coated with fine feathers. Her hooves grew outwards until they became claws. Her face grew longer and parted into a beak. Her horns grew longer and glowed as bright as her heart did. For the first time in her life, from the shoulder-blades they grew first, stretching outwards and curling to become mighty wings. The demons recoiled at the sight, curious, yet wary. They stepped back and cowered as the intelligent raven head snapped towards them. From its mouth the voices of the ancient guardians carried through and all it did was stare. They were unsure what to do, and had managed to call others forth. Each papery body rose from the ground and surrounded the beast. She began to rise, her wings outstretched and talons curled. Each pair of sulphur eyes watched with fear and their numbers grew and grew.
Inside the Guardians shell is the old doe, coatings of stones of the past now turned to dust, and the true essence of her purpose was revealed. Even as a Guardian, she had been told that she was there to protect the corvidae, that they needed her help. No. Her brethren were smart, wise and flourished. She needed not to protect them. She was there to protect others. To protect him. The Antediluvian with the gawky elegance and one of her greatest friends. The one who understood her burdens and respected her silently. The Raven-beast brings forth the memories of Iaurdagnire. She calls forth the memories of Gehirn, The Red, Rajan, Herla, Poltergeist, Wudiin, Sterre, Otis, Trees, Rowan, Darcy, Quad, Seed, Quamar, Scape, Vipin, Pride, Kaoori, Sektry, Ephire, Kumiko, Melusine. Aton. Neyrah. Feathercrest. For them, she fought. That was her purpose.
The beast looks down to them now, her head snapping towards them. She outstretches her wings and blue flames reach downwards to the creatures. Much like paper, each one flakes away like ash and returns to their master. The beast is silent, the only noise is the otherworldly hum that comes from the flames and the raging wind that rips and tears at the grasses below.
The beasts cease to exist.
Her body floats down gently now, the feathers falling from Ravenflights broken body. Exposed bone and skin touch the birch forest floor. She lays still, delicately, ornately. No one would witness what the beasts had done, nor what the beast herself had done.
Her body fades now to places far away. The only evidence of a fight being the splatters of blood, shreds of fur and flesh and a large pile of dark black feathers now blowing away.
@ Apel: -Gives ravey some badass glasses- Thankyou ;A; It means a lot, coming from you Mrs Talented mc Talentface.
@ Hrae: B)
@ Vee: 8O
@ Dag: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUcccck thankyou ♥ Im really glad you like them portrayed this way. I wasnt sure what you had in mind, no matter how good my mind reading abilities are.
LOL ♥
@ Remmy: Thanks bru ;A;
@ Jess: ooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH C:
@ Global: Thanks!
@ Wonderfull: Thankyou ;A;
@ Apparanza: 8(________)
@ Lung: "Mummy?"
Ahahahahaha. Thankyou ;A;
@ Kahara: Thanks!
-----
Ooh! Go Ravey go! That drawing came out amazing btw. Think you really got what you were aiming for. But your writing; ah. You're a girl of many talents.
@ Wonderful: Oh my! Hahahaha
@ Dag: Thankyou. And thankyou for letting me participate in your story in this manner. ♥
@ Xemi: o8
@ Mis: GO GO RAVEY GO GO. Thankyou ;A;
---
Aah! The epicosity! Really great, but RAVEY IF YOU FUCKING DIE AGAIN >8C GEH WILL BE DISPLEEAASED. XD
Anyway amazing job. The music went really well with it too. How one times that with the text.. Great job <3
To be added in parts. Stay
oh wow, tracking this so
Beautiful writing and pictures.
-sit,watch-
(No subject)
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
The creatures are so dlskafhsdadkh PERFECTLY CREEPY. <3
I am now more excited to see what happens here rather than playing the event 8| hahahaha.
woah. this is gonna be
EXCITING! Oooooooh!
Tracking.
-sits- ouo
.
O8
By Leuvr ♥
That last one that's head
Wait, no. Wtf am I saying? .____.
/slinks away, excited for more
Those look so creepy
@ Apel: -Gives ravey some
@ Hrae: B)
@ Vee: 8O
@ Dag: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUcccck thankyou ♥ Im really glad you like them portrayed this way. I wasnt sure what you had in mind, no matter how good my mind reading abilities are.
LOL ♥
@ Remmy: Thanks bru ;A;
@ Jess: ooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH C:
@ Global: Thanks!
@ Wonderfull: Thankyou ;A;
@ Apparanza: 8(________)
@ Lung: "Mummy?"
Ahahahahaha. Thankyou ;A;
@ Kahara: Thanks!
-----
Next part added!. One more to go!
I could not help but read
.
Oh my- 8D I had to read it
You make the demons look and sound so disgustingly creepy it's brilliant. Can't wait to see what you post next! <3 Thank you, too c:
Ooooh.. -curious track-
Ooh! Go Ravey go! That
@ Wonderful: Oh my!
@ Dag: Thankyou. And thankyou for letting me participate in your story in this manner. ♥
@ Xemi: o8
@ Mis: GO GO RAVEY GO GO. Thankyou ;A;
---
Complete.
For now?
Oh my God this is
The music with your writing gave me chills.
oh goodness.. this is
;A; I adore this.
I wish I had talent ;~;
Aah! The epicosity! Really
Anyway amazing job. The music went really well with it too. How one times that with the text.. Great job <3
Wow, this was wonderful. Both
Gorgeous ♥.
What But BUT She better
But
BUT
She better not be dead I have yet to read the link in her now blacked out bio but she better no be dead Y U DO THIS TO ME.
I love this but must make haste to the other blog. If she's dead I will -shakefist-